Lifestyle in a European farmhouse with DIY peg rail
Blog,  DIY

DIY Wooden Peg Rail | Beautiful Simplicity

We finally added a DIY wooden peg rail to our farmhouse open shelves in the kitchen and I wish we would have done this sooner.

DIY wooden peg rail in the kitchen

Okay, guys…

I recently had a thought, and it brought me so much peace that I feel like I just have to share it with you.

I was standing in the kitchen pouring myself a cup of coffee.

Then I looked up.

shaker peg rail with shelf in kitchen

I saw our simple open shelves and my new sourdough starter sitting on the counter.

Then when I opened the drawer to grab a spoon (because I was adding milk and sugar to this cup of coffee haha) I saw a drawer that was intentionally nearly empty.

Only holding the things that we use.

I thought about how much I’m longing for summer.

European farmhouse open shelves with peg rail

When we’ll have produce from our garden, and eggs from our chickens overflowing on the counters.

I realized in this world that’s spinning faster and faster every day, we’re attempting to do what we can to slow down.

To live with intention, and find joy in the moments more than in the things.

We’ve been going through drawers and closets all winter and purging, and we’ve found so much peace in having less.

simple diy shaker style peg rail

Less stuff and more of what actually matters.

I know that a specific decor style or DIY project isn’t going to suddenly solve the battle between keeping up and intentionally slowing down.

But I do think that when we display the things that remind us of the life we want to live, it motivates us.

It’s a silent reminder to live on purpose when the temptation to aimlessly keep up is strong.

peg hooks in a cottage kitchen

Anyway, I know that might be a little random, but when I see our new peg rail under the shelves in our kitchen, it does that.

It reminds me of the life I want to live with my family.

Open shelves before the peg rail

Simple farmhouse open shelves displayed beautifully

Open shelves after the peg rail

shaker style peg rail in the kitchen with cottage baskets

DIY Wooden Peg Rail | Supplies

  • 1×4 pine boards
  • shaker-style pegs
  • saw (We used a miter saw, but a circular saw would be fine too.)
  • wood glue
  • toothpick or small paintbrush
  • drill
  • drill bit
  • countersink drill bit
  • drill guide attachment

DIY Wooden Peg Rail | Instruction

how to make diy wood peg rail

How do you make a DIY wooden peg rail?

Step 1.

The first thing I did when we got the boards home was prime them.

I know that once I pull out the saw and cut them to the length I’ll have touching up to do, but to me, it’s easier to do one long board versus 4 short boards.

Step 2.

The next thing I did was measure and cut the pine boards to the appropriate sizes.

Step 3.

measuring

Now that the boards are the right size, it’s time to measure and mark where you want the holes for the pegs.

We took each board and measured 2” from both ends and made those spots our first and last peg holes on the rails.

Then we decided how many pegs we wanted that rack to have.

For the rack that has 3 pegs behind the mixer, I took the distance between the end pegs and found the middle.

We discovered that the pegs were nearly 5.5″ apart.

So for consistency, we stuck with that distance for the rest of the peg rails.

When we came to the corner peg racks, we kept that spacing and left a larger gap at the corner where the 2 peg racks meet.

For functionality, this works best.

Otherwise, you could end up with 2 pegs that are so close together that neither of them are usable.

Step 4.

peg rail

Once all the holes are marked, we pulled out the drill, drill bit, and drill guide attachment.

The drill guide attachment ensures that you’re drilling a hole at a 90-degree angle and the peg will stick out straight and not at an angle.

peg rail

We set the drill guide attachment to the right angle and depth for the pegs that we purchased and then began drilling all the holes.

Step 5.

glue drying

Now that the holes were drilled, it was time to glue the pegs into the board with wood glue.

Step 6.

painted peg rail

After the wood glue was set, I added another coat of primer and then started painting the peg rack to match the open shelves in the kitchen.

We don’t have a sprayer, although I wish we did.

So I painted with a brush and then did a light sanding between coats.

I did this for the girls’ built-in bookcase.

I know it’s a small thing, but I can feel the difference every time I touch it.

Step 7.

countersink drill bit

After the rails were dry (we let them dry and cure for a little over 24 hours) we used a right angle drill attachment and drilled countersink holes in the back of the shelf.

We did this on the DIY pot rack and brackets for our open shelves too.

It gives the projects a more polished look because you can hide the screw head.

I talk about how much I love the countersink drill bit and using it in this post if you’re interested in learning more.

Step 8.

Once we drilled our countersink holes in the top of the shelf we drilled pilot holes from the top of the shelf to the peg rail.

We do this to make sure when we screw them together the screw doesn’t split the wood, and therefore void all the time that went into constructing the peg rails.

Step 9.

screwing rack to shelf

Once the peg rails have pilot holes, all you have to do is screw to peg rail to the shelf and you’re done!

How far apart should shaker pegs be?

cottage style DIY peg rail in the kitchen

When we added our peg rails under our kitchen shelves we spaced our pegs 5.5 inches apart.

There is no hard and fast rule for the spacing of shaker-style pegs on a DIY wooden peg rail.

But, in our research we found them spaced anywhere from 5″-12″ apart.

It all depends on your needs for the specific space you’ll be using them.

peg hooks in a European farmhouse kitchen

I will caveat that by saying if you place them too close together it may make the peg rack look busy.

How do you attach wooden pegs to wood?

Step 1.

drilling holes for pegs

Drill holes in the wood that are big enough to put the peg in.

Make sure the peg is snug, but not too tight.

You want to accommodate for the wood expanding and contracting as the weather changes.

Step 2.

Once you’re sure the holes are the right size, add wood glue to the hole.

Put it on both the sides and bottom of the hole and then also to the portion of the peg that will go into the hole.

We like to use little craft paint brushes but anything small would work.

Step 3.

pegs in holes drying

Now put the peg into the hole and let it set.

I’m not sure if adding shaker-style peg rails to your home would be the silent reminder to live the life you love or not.

But I implore you, whatever that thing is…

Go and do it!

It might be something as small as a piece of landscape artwork.

Hang it up!

Or maybe it’s your great grandmothers mixing bowl.

Display it proudly for all to see!

I love hearing from you guys more than you know, so please, tell me, what do you have out as a silent reminder?

Please Pin!

cottage style DIY peg rail

Don’t forget to head over to Facebook or Instagram to see our day-to-day fun!

Also, make sure you follow along on Pinterest to check out all the other inspiration I’ve been pinning!

Have a great week! XoXo

Open Your Doors,
Aliya

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Hi! my name is Aliya and I'm so glad you stopped by today! Truly you have no idea how much it means to me. I live in Ohio with my husband and 3 little girls. I believe that once we start opening our doors, that hearts will start to open around us as well. You can head over to the About Aliya page to get my whole story.

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